Typewriter spools



Nov. 14, 1961 w. D. LANDGRAF 3,008,561

TYPEWRITER SPOOLS Filed May 20, 1960 INVEN TOR. WALTER D. LANDGZAF' BWY- 76M AT O 2N EYS 3,008,561 Patented Nov. 14, 1961 fice I 3,008,561 TYPEWRITER SPOOLS Walter David Landgraf, 4808 W. 96th Place I Oak Lawn, Ill. Filed May 20, 1960, Ser. No. 30,562

-- 7 Claims. (Cl.;197-151) The present invention relates generally to cartridges for inked printing ribbons and more particularly to improved packaging devices for inked printing ribbons of the kind employed in typewriters, and the like. 7 1 It is presently known to package typewriter ribbons in pairs of completely closed containers, which are joined when sold and which are separated prior to installation on typewriters. The ribbons are mounted on spools built into the containers, and extend between the containers through slots provided therein. The advantages of the described construction are that the fingers of the installers do not become covered with ink, because the fingers cannot come in contact with the main body of the ribbon, that prolonged storage of the ribbons in substantially closed containers results in' a minimum of ink dryness, and also that drying out of the ribbon while in the typewriter is minimized. r

In the heretofore known form of typewriter ribbon cartridge, receptacles have been provided, which are supplied with cover plates, and the latter have been joined by a frangible element, so that the cover elements function as separable connectors for the receptacles.

In accordance with the present invention, a simplified and effective form of typewriter ribbon cartridge is provided. Two containers, in the form of cylindrical cups, are utilized, the bases of each of which is provided with a small central circular aperture. The cups themselves are provided axial slots for ribbon egress and an interconnecting" bridge joins the slots. The bridge can be severed when the cartridge is installed, as by means of scissors or other sharp instruments. The bridge includes two walls, between which the ribbon passes in proceeding from one cup to the other via the slots, to maximize protection of the fingers against soiling with ink from the ribbon. I

Typewriter spools are also provided, which each has an extended disc-shaped flange acting as a cover plate for a cup and which also each includes a small stub extending from the spool into rotating engagement with the small circular aperture in the cup base. The rim of each-cup is provided with an inwardly extending circular lip, of slightly smaller diameter than the flange diameter. The spool may be assembled to the cup by pressing insertion of the spool, the stub then engaging the small circular aperture in the cup base, and the flange edges being pressed past the cup rim and resiliently engaging the under side of the latter. This operation is feasible, although the inner diameter of the cup is quite close to the flange diameter, because the radial slot on each cup imparts resilience to the circumferential walls, permitting it to spread, while the flanges and the cup bases themselves have inherent resilience. This resilience holds the flange edge snugly against the lip, without imparting significant frictional resistance to rotation of the spools.

Structures according to the present invention can be fabricated of two molded elements, (1) the cup elements,

and (2) the spool elements, and are therefore economical of fabrication. The spool elements then provide multiple functions, is. they include cover plates, spools, driven elements, and the elements for centering of the spools in the cups in rotational relation, all in a unitary molded structure.

It is, accordingly, a broad object of the present invenbridge between cups may be separated, when the car- 2 tion to provide a novel double cartridge for an inked ribbon.

It is another object of the invention to provide a novel cartridge system for inked ribbons, wherein each cartridge is composed of two elements, a cup element and a spool element, the latter being a unitary construction including a flange acting as a cover plate, a ribbon spool, devices for centering the flanges and spools rotationally in the cups, and for retaining the spools and flanges in the cups.

It is another object of the invention to provide a system of inked ribbon cartridges, each composed of a cup and a spool, the cups being joined by a bridge, the walls of which are designed to be placed into ribbon wells of printing machines, without having to change the shape of said wells.

It is another object of the invention to provide a novel two piece ribbon cartridge, including a cup having an inwardly protruding rim and a spool having a flange acting as a cover for the cup and engaging the under. side of the rim at the flange edge.

The above and still further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of one specific embodiment thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a view of a double cartridge according to the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view taken on line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a view taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a view in further perspective of the den/ice of FIGURE 1. 7

FIGURE 5 is a broken away view in perspective of cover and cup structures included in the double cartridge of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 6 is a view in perspective indicating how a tridges are to be mounted on a typewriter.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, the reference numeral 10 denotes one cup and the reference numeral 11 another cup of a twin cup inked ribbon cartridge. The cups 10 and 11 each include bases 12, 13, cylindrical walls 14, 15, and axial openings 16, 17 in the bases, respectively. Identical spool elements 18 are provided for the cups 1t) and 11.

The spool elements 18 include disc-shaped flanges 20 acting as cover plates which have slightly smaller diameters than the inner diameters of cylindrical walls 14, 15, and hence fit close but rotationally therein. Extending centrally from each flange 20 is a hub or spool proper 21, on which may be wound one end of a ribbon 22. To secure the ribbon 22 to the hubs or spools 21, each ribbon end is provided with an eyelet 23, which secures in an axial slot 24 on the hub.

Each of hubs 21 is provided with a central cylindrical stub 25, one end of which extends slightly beyond the base of the hub proper so that the ends of stubs 25 can be inserted within openings 16 or 17.

The rims of cups 1t), 11 are each provided with an inwardly extending lip '26 of inner diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the flange 20. The height of the spool plus the thickness of the flange is such that the upper edge of the flange can be forced under the lip, yet rides in the cup with no significant friction and without vertical or lateral play. Opposed axial slots 27 are provided in the cylindrical walls of the cups 10, 11 to In a vertical sense the bases l2, 13 of the cups have suflicient resilience to maintain contact of the edges of flanges against the under side of rims 26.

The cups 1t), 11 are joined by two parallel webs 31, 32, joined-by a oase 33, to form a bridge between the cups, and also to provide a shield for that portion of the ribbon 22 which extends between the cups, via openings 27. Openings 34 are provided in webs 31, 32 and base 33 to permit observation of the ribbon, as to establish color or type, and also to facilitate cutting of the bridge.

The cartridge pairs are sold in bridged relation. When the purchaser desires to install the ribbon in a typewriter, the bridge is cut, as by scissors or other sharp instrument, at the windows 34, and the cups it), 11 separated. The cups are installed in the typewriter with the bases 12, 13, upwardly and the cover plates 2% are provided with a series of openings 36, which can engage driving mechanism of a suitable typewriter. Such mechanism rotates as the typewriter is operated to type, and rotates the cover plates 29, and thereby the spools 21, in usual fashion. The spools and cover plates cannot wobble, during rotation, because they are provided with bearing surfaces at stubs and also at the edges of flanges 2a, where the latter bear snugly laterally against the inner surface of walls 14 or 15, and upwardly against the under side of lip 26.

The cups and cover plates provide an almost perfectly complete closure, since the driving openings extend into the hub 21, which is isolated from the interior of cups 1% 11, by central stub 25. Thereby, more completely effective antidrying provision is available than has been the casein known constructions.

While I have described and illustrated one specific embodiment of the present invention, it will become apparent that variations of the specific details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A ribbon cartridge, comprising a pair of cups, a bridge joining said cups, each of said cups including a base Wall and a cylindrical Wall extending from and integral with said base Wall, said cylindrical walls of said cups including opposing axial slots for ingress and egress of a ribbon, a spool for each of said cups, each of said spools including a flange acting as a cover for said cup, and means for securing said spools and flanges rotationally with respect to said cups, said bridge including at least two walls between which said ribbon extends in passing between said axial slots.

2. A ribbon cartridge, comprising a pair of joined cups, each of said cups including a base wall and a cylindrical wall extending from and integral with said base wall, said cylindrical walls of said cups each including an axial slot, a spool for each of said cups, each of said spool-s having a flange acting as a cover for a cup, and means for securing said spools and flanges rotationally with respect to said cups.

3. A ribbon cartridge, comprising a cup, said cup consisting of a disc-shaped base wall having a central aperture and a cylindrical wall extending from and integral with said base wall, said cylindrical wall including an axially extending slot for egress of a ribbon, a spool element for said cup, said spool element including a flange acting as a cover plate and a ribbon hub integral with said flange, a stub integral with said hub and mating with said central aperture, said flange having a slightly smaller outer diameter than the inner surface of said cylindrical wall and having a cylindrical edge bearing against said inner surface, said cylindrical Wall including a lip overhanging said flange and securing said spool element within said cup.

4. The combination according to claim 3 wherein is provided means in said hub for rotatably moving said hub with respect to said cup.

5. A universal ribbon cartridge, comprising a pair of cups, a severable bridge joining said cups, a spool installed in each of said cups and rotatable freely with respect thereto, said cups being arranged for installation in the wells of an inked printing machine after severance of said bridge, the severed remainders of said bridge on each side of the line of severance remaining secured to said cups as protuberances and being arranged to hold said cups against rotation with respect to said wells.

6. The combination according to claim 5 wherein said cups and said bridge before severance constitute a unitary molded structure. 7

7. A ribbon cartridge comprising a pair of cups having parallel axes, a bridge joining said cups, each of said cups including a base wall and a cylindrical Wall extending from and integral with said base wall, said cylindrical walls including opposed axial slots for ingress and egress of said ribbon, a spool rotatable within each of said cups, each of said spools including a flange acting as a cover for its cup, said bridge extending in a plane parallel to the axes of said cups, said bridge being severa'ble to leave a protuberance on each cup arranged to prevent predetermined rotations of said cups with respect to the wells of inked printing machines when installed therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

